Event raises awareness of domestic abuse

They grimaced and walked gingerly around the track at Three Rivers High School.Many of the men who participated in Saturday’s “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” fundraiser concurred flip-flops are a much better friend to the feet than high heels.“I was pretty sore last year, lots of blisters,” said Three Rivers resident Glenn Winters, who had the foresight to wear socks Saturday.

They grimaced and walked gingerly around the track at Three Rivers High School.

Many of the men who participated in Saturday’s “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” fundraiser concurred flip-flops are a much better friend to the feet than high heels.

“I was pretty sore last year, lots of blisters,” said Three Rivers resident Glenn Winters, who had the foresight to wear socks Saturday.

The second annual event is a fundraiser for Three Rivers-based Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services. The agency provides help to women in St. Joseph, Cass and Van Buren counties.

Rose Parshall, co-chair of Saturday’s event, said with more than 40 people registered to walk.

“We’ve been very fortunate to have the support of police and fire personnel, judges and county prosecutors have participated, and really strong help from the UAW 2093,” Parshall said. “We make good use of our funding and every little bit helps.”

A final tally from Saturday’s was not immediately available.

Parshall said she is especially grateful to Tom Bringman, Three Rivers chief of police, for the support he generates and time he takes to help promote DASAS.

New this year was a 5K walk and run, which preceded the Walk a Mile event. Parshall said the addition will further assist the agency with funding to help women who are victims of physical and sexual abuse.

Camikia Riddle, a Three Rivers resident, shared a moving anecdote about her need for DASAS support about 20 years ago. Without DASAS, she said, her options to leave an abusive relationship were limited.

“I raised two girls who are now 21 and 23, I eventually found a man who has taught me what true love really is, and I owe it all to DASAS,” Riddle said, adding that she and her husband, Donald, married last August.

Riddle followed through on a promise when she was discharged from DASAS.

“I said I’m never coming back as a victim,” she said. “And it’s true. Though I did go back, it has been as an employee. I’m a resident support advocate.”

St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough said his department’s close relationship with DASAS has been an easy partnership thanks to its executive director, Kim Kramer.

“The wheels are rolling and that’s a tribute to Kim,” McDonough said. “Domestic violence happens in all kinds of households and we have to keep our eyes and ears open and do something if things don’t seem right.”

Participants were encouraged to stop and look at several pairs of shoes, each accompanied by the name of a person who was a fatal victim of domestic violence. Kramer suggested participants keep the victims in their thoughts as they made their way around the track.